MBTA recommends reconstruction of Newton commuter rail stations

Thursday

May 10, 2018 at 12:50 PMMay 10, 2018 at 12:50 PM

The MBTA has completed a year-long feasibility study of the Commuter Rail stations in Newton. The study concluded that the best option is to rebuild all three stations; Auburndale, West Newton and Newtonville. At a meeting of the MBTA’s Fiscal and Management Control board on Monday, Rep. Kay Khan and others testified in support of the project.

“Having advocated for this project for 15 years, I am incredibly pleased with this result and excited for the next phase of the project,” said Khan, D-Newton. “This is a much needed investment in the Commuter Rail system, which will make these stations much more accessible to people with disabilities, the elderly and families with young children.”

This project began with a collaboration between Khan and then-Rep. Barney Frank to acquire federal funding to redesign Auburndale Station, making it accessible and compliant with the American with Disabilities Act. The initial design was later found to have unintended negative impacts on rail operations and train service, which prompted the recently-completed study.

The study proposes three potential courses of action: “Alternative One” suggests building a single new high-level platform on the north side of the tracks; “Alternative Two” suggests building two new high-level platforms, one on each side of the tracks; “Alternative Three” suggests widening the tracks to allow for a single new center-island platform, which would allow boarding trains on either track. Each proposal includes the necessary ramps and elevators to ensure the platforms are accessible to those with mobility impairments.

Speaking to the Fiscal and Management Control Board recently, Khan voiced her support for “Build Alternative One,” and submitted a letter of support signed by the entire Newton legislative delegation, Newton Mayor Ruthanne, and 15 of 24 Newton city councilors.

“We believe that Alternative Two represents the ideal configuration of a commuter rail station, both for Newton and for the larger Commuter Rail system,” Khan continued, “I was pleased to hear the MBTA shares our belief that this build alternative represents the best design, and that they are open to the possibility of completing Alternative Two in the long-term. Given financial and logistical constraints on the project, my hope is that we can complete Alternative One, building new platforms on the north side of the track, and then return to the south side of the track and build new platforms there in the future.”

Funding of about $20 million has been placed in the Draft FY19’23 Capital Investment Plan for the completion of the project. The previously completed 100 percent design for Auburndale Station will be usable. Designs for West Newton and Newtonville will begin to move forward in the near future. Representative Khan said that she looks forward to working together with the MBTA, and Newton city officials to figure out how to fully fund and then complete the first phase of this project.